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Twins, 11, Held In Dad's Slaying, Wounding Of Mother And Sister

April 04, 1999|By From Tribune News Services.

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — Eleven-year-old twin brothers were spending the weekend in separate juvenile detention centers after being charged with killing their father and wounding their mother and sister.

Investigators said they were trying to learn what set off the twins. Authorities say they quit their shooting rampage after emptying a .32-caliber pistol.

"My dad's been shot, my mom's been shot. Help!" one of the boys said in a panicked 911 emergency call to police.

William Harvey Bawcum Jr., 46, was gunned down Thursday night while rushing up a flight of steps to a bedroom where his wife had been shot in their home in Kittrell, about 35 miles north of Raleigh.

Deborah Bawcum, 45, was in good condition Saturday, recovering from a bullet wound to the right arm. The sister, 16, was in fair condition.

The twins were each charged Friday with murder and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

They are too young to be tried as adults. If found to be delinquent, they could be held until they turn 18.

The boys were assigned guardians to act as their advocates.

One of the guardians, after talking to the boys, said only that the shooting wasn't planned. "Physically they're fine," he said. "Mentally . . . that will come out later."